TUF-GLAS™ IMPACT ACRYLIC
Tuf-Glas sheet is a clear rigid sheet for all types of sign applications. It provides clarity and stiffness and forms with better detail at lower temperatures than cast acrylic or general purpose extruded acrylic sheet.
FABRICATION Tuf-Glas sheet can be sawed, drilled and routed with standard equipment and procedures recommended for conventional acrylic sheet. Painting, silk-screening, vinyl application and other decorative techniques are easily accomplished. Tuf-Glas sheet can also be joined to itself or other materials by adhesive or solvent bonding. Mechanical fastening may be successful depending upon procedure and end use. Contact your Spartech technical sales representative for guidelines specific to your custom requirements. CLEANING Tuf-Glas sheet acrylic surface offers good resistance to a variety of household cleaners and other chemical environments. Final parts should be tested with specific chemical exposure appropriate to the end-use application. To clean, wash with mild, non-abrasive soap or detergent and rinse with clean water and a dry, soft cloth. To prevent water spots, dry thoroughly with chamois or clean cloth or sponge. Avoid cleaning in direct sunlight to prevent streaking. Do not use abrasive cleaners. CUTTING Tuf-Glas sheet can be cut with standard power sawing equipment including table saws, band saws and circular saws if proper clamping devices are used. Standard hollow-ground, high-speed crosscut steel blades are adequate, but carbide-tipped blades are suggested for longer life. Saw blades should have a 0–5 degree positive rake angle. There should be from four to eight teeth per inch depending on sheet thickness. All teeth should be of uniform height. Saws should run at speeds of 8,000 to 12,000 linear feet per minute. Band saw blades should have 10–14 teeth per inch; blade speeds should be between 4,000 and 5,000 feet per minute. THICKNESS IN INCHES NUMBER OF TEETH/INCH .100 to .125 6 to 8 .125 to .187 5 to 6 .187 & thicker 4 to 5
DRILLING Tuf-Glas sheet can be drilled with modified, standard high-speed, steel twist drills. The drills should have slow spirals and wide polished flutes. The included tip angle should be ground to 60 degrees and the cutting edge dubbed off to a zero degree rake angle. The back lip clearance angles should be ground to 12–15 degrees. CEMENTING Conventional solvent cements and polymerizable cements will readily join Tuf-Glas sheet. Polymerizable cements give higher joint strengths than solvents. PAINTING Tuf-Glas sheet can be easily painted and silk-screened with standard sign paints for acrylic sheet; impact additives may be used if desired. Paint can be removed with a 50/50 mixture of VM&P Naphtha in combination with Lacryl 205-T or Solvent 100. More aggressive solvents or mixtures can cause crazing, particularly in thermoformed faces with residual stresses. Remove solvent from plastic sheet as quickly as possible to avoid solvent attack. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper painting and paint removal procedures. THERMOFORMING Tuf-Glas sheet forms very easily with better detail at lower temperatures than general purpose or cast acrylic sheet on virtually all thermoforming equipment—from high-volume, multi-station rotary machines to single station and shuttle presses. Thorough heat-soaking is recommended for good part detail with minimum residual stresses. Forming temperatures range from 275–350°F with optimum sheet temperature at a uniform 325°F. Part removal temperature should be no greater than 190°F. Tuf-Glas sheet forming cycle times can be as much as 25% faster than cast acrylic. Tuf-Glas sheet has been successfully formed in vertical ovens as well. Sheet should be tenter framed, or clamped on all four sides with time and temperature carefully controlled and monitored.
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